A close friend of a former soap actor whose body was found in a Wirksworth quarry has paid tribute to a ‘passionate’ and ‘kind’ man.

A body, which was found in Middle Peak Quarry on Tuesday, has been formally identified as missing Wirksworth man Trevor Smith.

The 42-year-old, who was also known by his stage name Trevor Hancock, had made numerous television and film appearances over the years, including parts in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and No Angels, as well as co-founding Wirksworth theatre company Men in Dressing Gowns in 2006.

Friend Robert Peach, of Matlock, said he was very sad to hear the news.

“He was very very passionate about art and theatre and film,” he added.

Twenty members of Derby Mountain Rescue Team as well as a specialist search dog were called to help find Mr Smith when he went missing from his home in Bowling Green Lane on Monday night. However the search was called off following the discovery of a body the following day.

Mr Peach said as well as being a professional actor, his friend had worked as a teacher.

“He was very generous,” he continued. “He had a lot of energy and he was very kind.”

Mr Peach said he first met Mr Smith in 2012 and over the years the pair had worked on a script together.

He added that he had been aware his friend was spending Christmas by himself and had tried to convince him to spend the holiday with him, but was unsuccessful.

“He had this way of convincing me that he was perfectly fine to spend Christmas by himself,” he continued.

The last time the pair spoke was on Saturday when Mr Smith had been in Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.

The police stated that at the time he went missing, Mr Smith had plaster casts on both his wrists and his friend said he would not be surprised if he had taken his own life, having made attempts on it in the past.

“He was a true friend and he was incredible,” Mr Peach concluded.

The police did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.